Force-Activated Earphone

ABSTRACT

An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/351,133, filed Jun. 17, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/539,515, filed Aug. 13, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.11,070,904, which is a nonprovisional of and claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/734,389,filed Sep. 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference as if fully disclosed herein.

FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to earphones. Moreparticularly, the present embodiments relate to force-activatedearphones.

BACKGROUND

Earphones are often used to provide audio output to users of electronicdevices without overly disturbing people around them. For example,headsets for personal electronic devices (such as computing devices,digital media players, music players, transistor radios, and so on)typically include a pair of earphones. These earphones are usuallyconfigured with ear cups that go over the user's ears or with ear piecesor speakers that insert into the user's ear canal in order to form anacoustic chamber with the user's ear. The earphones typically produceacoustic waves that are transmitted into that acoustic chamber throughone or more acoustic ports. In this way, the user can hear the audiooutput without overly disturbing people in the environment around theuser.

Many such earphones include no input devices. Instead, such earphonesmay be controlled using input devices incorporated into externalelectronic devices to which the earphones may be wired or wirelesslycoupled.

Other earphones may include one or more input devices. For example,earphones may be configured with one or more buttons, dials, switches,sliders, and so on. Such input devices may be used to activate (e.g.,provide input to) the earphone.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices,such as earphones. A non-binary amount of a force applied to a forceinput surface defined by a housing of the earphone is determinable usinga change in a mutual capacitance between first and second forceelectrodes. A spring member disposed within the housing biases the firstforce electrode towards the housing and allows it to move towards thesecond force electrode when the force is applied. In someimplementations, the earphone may detect touch on a touch input surfacedefined by the housing. In various examples of such an implementation,the earphone may determine the non-binary amount of the force upondetection of the touch. In a particular embodiment, the first and secondforce electrodes may be implemented using separate sections of a singleflexible circuit. This flexible circuit may flex to allow the firstforce electrode to move toward the second force electrode when the forceis applied. This flexible circuit may also flex to allow the first forceelectrode to move away from the second force electrode when the force isno longer applied.

In various embodiments, an electronic device includes a housing defininga force input surface, a first force electrode disposed within thehousing, a second force electrode disposed within the housing, a springmember biasing the first force electrode toward the housing and allowingthe first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode whenan input force is applied to the force input surface, and a controller.The controller is operative to determine a non-binary amount of theinput force using a change in a capacitance between the first forceelectrode and the second force electrode.

In some examples, the electronic device further includes a touch sensordisposed within the housing. In some implementations of such examples,the housing defines a touch input surface and the spring member includesa first arm that biases the touch sensor toward the touch input surfaceand a second arm that biases the first force electrode toward the forceinput surface. In various examples, the capacitance is a mutualcapacitance.

In various examples, the spring member is at least one of metal orplastic. In numerous examples, the spring member has an M-shaped crosssection.

In some examples, the housing defines an additional force input surface.In some implementations of such examples, a third force electrode isdisposed within the housing adjacent to the additional force inputsurface and a fourth force electrode is disposed within the housing. Insuch implementations, the controller is operative to determine thenon-binary amount of the input force using the capacitance between thefirst force electrode and the second force electrode and an additionalcapacitance between the third force electrode and the fourth forceelectrode.

In numerous examples, the controller is operative to determine anadditional force applied to an area of the housing other than the forceinput surface using an additional change in the capacitance between thefirst force electrode and the second force electrode. The area may beorthogonal to the force input surface and the additional change in thecapacitance may be opposite the change in the capacitance.

In some embodiments, an earphone includes a housing, a spring memberdisposed within the housing that moves when a force is applied to thehousing, a touch sensor coupled to the spring member that is configuredto detect a touch on the housing, a force sensor coupled to the springmember, and a controller. The controller uses the force sensor and thetouch sensor to determine an amount of the force.

In some examples, the touch is on a first area of the housing and theforce is applied to a second area of the housing. In various suchexamples, the first area is located opposite the second area. In somesuch examples, the first area and the second area are both positionedapproximately 90 degrees from a user's head during use of the earphone.

In various examples, the touch sensor is inoperable to detect touches onthe second area. In some examples, the controller is operative tointerpret the force as multiple different kinds of input.

In numerous embodiments, an earphone includes a housing, a flexiblecircuit disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in thehousing. The housing includes a speaker and a stem extending from thespeaker and defining a touch input surface and a force input surfaceopposite the touch input surface. The flexible circuit includes a firstcircuitry section, a second circuitry section, and a third circuitrysection. The flexible circuit flexes to allow the second circuitrysection to move toward the third circuitry section when a force isapplied to the force input surface and away from the third circuitrysection when the force is no longer applied. The controller is operativeto determine a touch to the touch input surface using a first change ina first mutual capacitance detected using the first circuitry sectionand a non-binary amount of the force using a second change in a secondmutual capacitance detected using the second circuitry section and thethird circuitry section.

In some examples, the controller uses the second circuitry section andthe third circuitry section to determine the non-binary amount of theforce upon determining the touch. In numerous examples, the earphonefurther includes an antenna disposed within the housing. The flexiblecircuit may be mounted to the antenna. In some examples, the speakerdefines an acoustic port and the touch input surface and the force inputsurface are substantially orthogonal to the acoustic port.

In various examples, the controller determines an amount of time thatthe force is applied. In some examples, the controller interprets theforce as a first input if the non-binary amount of the force is below aforce threshold and a second input if the non-binary amount of the forceat least meets the force threshold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements.

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram illustrating example functionalrelationships between example components that may be implemented in anelectronic device.

FIG. 1B depicts an example implementation of the electronic device ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C depicts a user using the example electronic device of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D depicts the electronic device of FIG. 1C forming an acousticchamber with an ear canal of the user.

FIG. 2A depicts an example cross-sectional view of the electronic deviceof FIG. 1A, taken along line A-A of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2B depicts the electronic device of FIG. 2A when a force is appliedto the input surfaces.

FIG. 3A depicts a first side of an example flexible circuit that may beused to implement the electronic device depicted in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B depicts a second side of the example flexible circuit of FIG.3A.

FIG. 4 depicts the assembly of the electronic device of FIG. 2A with thehousing removed.

FIG. 5 depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement thetouch sensor depicted in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 6 depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement theforce sensor depicted in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 7 depicts a first alternative example of the electronic device ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 8 depicts a second alternative example of the electronic device ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 9 depicts a third alternative example of the electronic device ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 10 depicts a fourth alternative example of the electronic device ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method foroperating a device that includes a force sensor. This method may beperformed using the electronic device of FIGS. 1A-2B.

FIG. 12 depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method forassembling an electronic device. The method may assemble the electronicdevice of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theappended claims.

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods,apparatuses, and products that embody various elements of the presentdisclosure. However, it should be understood that the describeddisclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to thosedescribed herein.

Earphones that include mechanical input devices (such as buttons, dials,switches, sliders, and so on) disposed on, or accessible through, ahousing surface may be challenging to operate as a user may not be ableto see the mechanical input devices while the earphones are worn. Someearphones may attempt to solve this by using input mechanisms thatdetect one or more taps from a user. However, though a user may be ableto activate (e.g., provide input to) the earphone more easily by tappingthan by locating a button to press, tapping the earphone may conductsound. This may be unpleasant to the user. This may also disrupt audiooutput produced by the earphone. Further, in implementations where theearphone includes one or more microphones, the tapping may be picked upby a microphone.

The following disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices,such as earphones. Embodiments may estimate or determine non-binaryamounts of force applied to a force input surface on a housing bymeasuring a change in capacitance between first and second forceelectrodes. A spring member within the housing biases the first forceelectrode towards the housing while allowing it to move towards thesecond force electrode when the force is applied. In this way, theearphone can be activated by a force without requiring or using externalmechanical input devices and/or without tapping.

In some implementations, an earphone may detect a touch on a touch inputsurface of the housing. In some embodiments, the earphone may determinea non-binary amount of input force upon detection of the touch. In thisway, the earphone may improve power usage over implementations whereforce determination is performed more frequently. For example, theearphone may be a battery powered device and the improved power usagemay improve battery life. In other implementations, the earphone may usesignals from both a touch sensor and a force sensor to determine appliedforce by only using force detected when a touch is also detected.

In a particular embodiment, the first and second force electrodes may beimplemented as separate sections of a single flexible circuit. Thisflexible circuit may flex to allow the first force electrode to movetoward the second force electrode when the force is applied. Thisflexible circuit may also flex to allow the first force electrode tomove away from the second force electrode when the force is no longerapplied.

In certain embodiments, an earphone may detect touch on a first side ofa stem and force on the other side of the stem. The sides where touchand force are detected may be opposite and substantially orthogonal withrespect to each other (oriented 180 degrees) such that a user maysimultaneously contact both sides when squeezing the stem between theuser's fingers. The earphone may determine a force and use the force ifa touch is detected, potentially ignoring the determined force if atouch is not detected. In this way, the earphone may use the touch andforce detection of the two sides together to control operation of theearphone.

In some examples, the two sides may be oriented substantiallyperpendicular (90 degrees) from the user's head or other body part whenin use to prevent or mitigate interference between the user's head andone or more sensors used to detect touch and/or force. For example, thisorientation may prevent the two sides from touching the user's head orface during use of the earphone. The user's head or face touching thetwo sides could be falsely interpreted as input. As such, thisorientation may reduce false inputs by preventing the user's head orface from touching the two sides during use.

However, it is understood that this is an example. In variousimplementations, the sides may be configured in other arrangements. Forexample, the two sides may be positioned 45 degrees away from each otherand respectively 135 degrees away from the user when the user is wearingthe earphone.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1A-9 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram illustrating example functionalrelationships between example components that may be used to implementan electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may include acontroller 132 that is operative to interpret various touches to and/orforces exerted upon the electronic device 101 as input. For example, theelectronic device 101 may be an earphone with one or more input surfacesdefined on a housing. The controller 132 may use one or more touchsensors 130 and/or force sensors 131 to detect touches on one or more ofthe input surfaces, force applied to one or more of the input surfaces,and so on. For example, the electronic device 101 may include one ormore mutual capacitance touch sensors, self-capacitance touch sensors,mutual capacitance force sensors, self-capacitance force sensors, straingauges, optical sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, switches,temperature sensors, dome switches, displacement sensors, and so on.

The electronic device 101 may also include an antenna 106, one or morenon-transitory storage media 180 (which may take the form of, but is notlimited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium;magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory;erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on), and/or one ormore other components. The controller 132 may execute instructionsstored in the non-transitory storage medium 180 to perform variousfunctions, such as using the touch sensor 130 to detect touch, using theforce sensor 131 to detect applied force, using the antenna 106 tocommunicate with an associated device, and so on

FIG. 1B depicts an example implementation of the electronic device 101.As illustrated, in some implementations, the electronic device 101 maybe an earphone. In this example, the electronic device 101 is a wirelessearphone. However, it is understood that this is an example. In variousimplementations, the electronic device 101 may be any kind of electronicdevice, such as a mobile computing device, a stylus, and so on. Variousconfigurations are possible and contemplated.

The electronic device 101 may include a housing including a speaker 102and a stem 103. The stem 103 may define the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b.A user may be able to touch, press, hold, squeeze, and/or otherwiseinteract with one or more of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. This mayallow the user to activate and/or otherwise provide touch, force, and/orother input to the electronic device 101.

The speaker 102 may define an acoustic chamber in cooperation with anear of a user. In some implementations, the speaker 102 may also includea microphone acoustic port 105.

As illustrated, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b may be defined onopposite sides (i.e., located opposite each other) of the stem 103. Thispositioning of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b with respect to eachother may allow force to be applied by squeezing the input surfaces 104a, 104 b. As described above with respect to FIG. 1A, the electronicdevice 101 may include a number of different sensors for detecting touchon and/or force applied to one or more of the input surfaces 104 a, 104b.

For example, the electronic device 101 may detect a non-binary amount offorce applied to one or more input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. The amount ofthe force detected may be non-binary because the electronic device 101is operative to determine an amount of the force that is applied withina range of force amounts rather than only a binary detection of whetheror not force is applied. The electronic device 101 may interpret theapplied force as a first input if the amount of the force is less than aforce threshold. However, the electronic device 101 may interpret theforce as a second input if the amount of the force at least meets theforce threshold.

In some examples, the electronic device 101 may determine otherinformation about touch or applied force. For example, the electronicdevice 101 (or controller or other processing unit thereof) may alsodetermine an amount of time that a force is applied. The electronicdevice 101 may interpret force that is applied for an extended period oftime as a different input than a force that is applied and thenimmediately released. In such an example, the electronic device 101 mayinterpret an applied force as multiple different kinds of inputdepending on the amount of the force that is applied, the amount of timethat the force is applied, the direction that force is applied, and/orother aspects of the applied force.

In some implementations, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b may be indentsin the stem 103. This may provide a physical cue to guide a user to theinput surfaces 104 a, 104 b. However, it is understood that this is anexample. In other implementations, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b maybe otherwise configured without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. By way of illustration, in other implementations, the inputsurfaces 104 a, 104 b may be raised portions of the stem 103, ridges onthe stem 103, and so on without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

For example, in some implementations, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 bmay be configured as protrusions from the stem 103. In otherimplementations, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b may be physicallycontiguous with other sections of the stem 103 but may be indicated by adifferent color than the other sections of the stem 103. In still otherimplementations, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b may be visuallyindistinguishable from other sections of the stem 103. Variousconfigurations are possible and contemplated.

In some examples, the electronic device 101 may include both a forcesensor and a touch sensor. For example, the force sensor may bepositioned adjacent one of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b and the touchsensor may be positioned adjacent the other of the input surfaces 104 a,104 b. As such, the electronic device 101 may be operative to determineboth touch and force to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b.

In various examples, the electronic device 101 may use the force sensorto determine a non-binary amount of force applied only upon detection ofa touch. This may prevent false readings, as objects other than a usercould exert force on the housing. This may also reduce power consumptionas compared to operating the force sensor more often or continuously. Inexamples where the electronic device 101 is powered by one or morebatteries and/or is otherwise portable, this reduced power consumptionmay conserve the life of batteries and/or other components.

In other examples, the electronic device 101 may use the force sensorand a touch sensor to determine the amount of the force. For example,the electronic device 101 may use the force sensor regardless whether ornot touch is detected, but may only use signals from the force sensorwhen a touch is detected.

In still other examples, force sensors may be positioned adjacent toboth input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. Force sensors may be operated atdifferent power levels. The higher the power level at which a forcesensor is operated, the higher a signal to noise ratio of force datafrom a force sensor may be. Conversely, the lower the power level atwhich a force sensor is operated, the lower the signal to noise ratio ofthe force data may be, resulting in less accurate force data due tohigher noise. Higher signal to noise ratio is desirable whereas higherpower is not. As force data from two force sensors may be evaluated inthis example to determine non-binary amounts of applied force, the forcesensors may operate in a manner that is less accurate but uses lesspower. This may be due to the ability to combine the force data for ahigher signal to noise ratio despite the lower powered operation of theindividual force sensors. The use of the multiple sets of force data maymake up for the less accurate but lower powered operation of eitherforce sensor individually.

In yet other examples, multiple force sensors may be used for otherpurposes than increasing signal to noise ratios by averaging their data.For example, data from multiple force sensors may enable determinationof force vector information. In other words, multiple force sensors mayenable determination of both magnitude and direction of force. Thisforce vector information may be used to discriminate between intentionalapplication of force to provide input and accidental application offorce, such as a user adjusting a position of the electronic device 101.Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated, the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b may be substantiallyorthogonal to the microphone acoustic port 105. This may prevent theinput surfaces 104 a, 104 b from touching a user's head during use ofthe electronic device 101.

FIG. 1C depicts a user 190 using the example electronic device 101 ofFIG. 1B. As shown, the user may touch and exert force on the inputsurfaces 104 a, 104 b simultaneously by squeezing the input surfaces 104a, 104 b between the user's finger and thumb. As also shown, the inputsurfaces 104 a, 104 b are positioned to prevent contact with the user'shead during use of the electronic device 101.

FIG. 1D depicts the electronic device 101 forming an acoustic chamber191 with an ear canal 192 of the user 190. The acoustic chamber 191 maybe defined by the speaker 102 of the electronic device 101 at one sideof the ear canal 192 of the user 190 and by the eardrum 193 of the user190 at the other side of the ear canal 192 of the user 190. Theelectronic device 101 may transmit sound waves into the acoustic chamber191 through an output acoustic port 121. In this way, the user 190 maybe able to hear the sound waves without overly disturbing people in theenvironment around the user 190.

FIG. 2A depicts an example cross-sectional view of the electronic device101, taken along line A-A of FIG. 1B. An assembly 170 disposed withinthe stem 103 may include a flexible circuit 108, a spring member 109, anattachment spring member 107, an antenna 106, and a controller 132.

The flexible circuit 108 may form a touch sensor 130 adjacent the inputsurface 104 a and a force sensor 131 adjacent the input surface 104 b.As such, the input surface 104 a may be a touch input surface and theinput surface 104 b may be a force input surface.

In various implementations, force applied to the force input surface maybe determined or estimated upon detection of a touch to the touch inputsurface. This may reduce power consumption over implementations whereforce detection is constantly or more frequently performed.

In other examples, the force sensor 131 and touch sensor 130 may be usedto determine the amount of the force. For example, the force sensor 131may be operated regardless whether or not touch is detected, but signalsfrom the force sensor 131 may only be used when the touch sensor 130detects a touch. This may ensure that a user intentionally applied theforce.

The flexible circuit 108 may include multiple circuitry sections thatare connected to each other. For example, as shown, the flexible circuit108 may include a first circuitry section 111, a second circuitrysection 113, and a third circuitry section 112. The touch sensor 130 maybe formed by the first circuitry section 111. The force sensor 131 maybe formed by the second circuitry section 113 and the third circuitrysection 112.

The flexible circuit 108 may be able to flex, bend, or otherwise deformto allow the second circuitry section 113 to move toward the thirdcircuitry section 112 when a force is applied to the housing, such asthe force input surface. This may reduce a gap 114 (which may be an airgap or otherwise be filled with a dielectric material such as silicone)between the second circuitry section 113 and the third circuitry section112. The flexible circuit 108 may also be able to flex, bend, orotherwise deform to allow the second circuitry section 113 to move awayfrom the third circuitry section 112 when the force is no longerapplied. FIG. 2B depicts the electronic device 101 of FIG. 2A when aforce is applied to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a spring member 109 may be disposedwithin the stem 103. The spring member 109 may bias the second circuitrysection 113 toward the force input surface of the stem 103. In otherwords, the spring member 109 may maintain the second circuitry section113 at an initial position (shown) in the absence of force, allow thesecond circuitry section 113 to move when force is applied that movesthe stem 103, and allows the second circuitry section 113 to return tothe initial position when the force is no longer applied. The springmember 109 may also bias the first circuitry section 111 toward thetouch input surface of the stem 103.

The spring member 109 may be a torsion spring and/or any other kind ofspring. The spring member 109 may be formed of metal, plastic, acombination thereof, and so on. The spring member 109 may include afirst arm 110 a and a second arm 110 b such that the spring member 109may have an M-shaped cross section. The first arm 110 a may bias thefirst circuitry section 111 toward the touch input surface of the stem103. The second arm 110 b may bias the second circuitry section 113toward the force input surface of the stem 103. In otherimplementations, the spring member 109 may be shaped otherwise, such asembodiments where the spring member 109 has a C-shaped cross section, aU-shaped cross section, and so on.

Various portions of the flexible circuit 108 may be coupled or connectedto the spring member 109. For example, adhesive may couple the flexiblecircuit 108 to the spring member 109, the first circuitry section 111 tothe first arm 110 a, the second circuitry section 113 to the second arm110 b, and so on.

As shown, the first circuitry section 111 is positioned between thefirst arm 110 a and an internal surface 171 of the stem 103. As alsoshown, the second arm 110 b is shown positioned between the secondcircuitry section 113 and the internal surface 171 of the stem 103.However, these are examples. In various implementations, these positionsmay be reversed and/or otherwise changed without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

This configuration of the flexible circuit 108 and the spring member 109may allow the touch sensor 130 and/or the force sensor 131 to bedisposed within the stem 103 without being laminated and/or otherwiseaffixed to the stem 103. This may simplify manufacture of the electronicdevice 101.

The flexible circuit 108 may be coupled to an attachment spring member107 (the spring member 109 being a movement spring member since thespring member 109 facilitates movement rather than attaching theflexible circuit 108) or other attachment member, such as usingadhesive. The attachment spring member 107 may clamp or otherwise attacharound an antenna 106. The antenna 106 may be an assembly including anantenna carrier with an antenna resonator made of conductive material(such as gold, silver, copper, alloys, or the like) disposed thereon.The antenna 106 may be held in place by the stem 103. By being coupledto the antenna 106, other elements (such as the attachment spring member107, the flexible circuit 108, and the spring member 109) may be held inplace as well.

Although the above illustrates and describes the attachment springmember 107 as attached around the antenna 106, it is understood thatthis is an example. In other implementations, the attachment springmember 107 and/or other elements (such as the flexible circuit 108, thespring member 109, and so on) may be attached to other componentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example,in some implementations, the electronic device 101 may include a batterypack. In such an implementation, the attachment spring member 107 may beattached to the battery pack.

With respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a controller 132 or other processor orprocessing unit (or other control circuitry) may also be disposed in thestem 103. The controller 132 may be electrically and/or otherwisecommunicably coupled to various portions of the flexible circuit 108.The controller 132 may receive and/or evaluate touch data from the touchsensor 130, receive and/or evaluate force data from the force sensor131, determine one or more touches using the touch data, determine anon-binary amount of applied force using the force data (and/or otherinformation about the force, such as a duration that the force isapplied), and so on. The controller 132 may be connected to anon-transitory storage medium that may store instructions executable bythe controller 132.

In various implementations, the controller 132 may only use the forcesensor 131 to detect a force applied to the stem 103 or other portion ofthe housing (such as the input surface 104 b) when the touch sensordetects a touch on the stem 103 or other portion of the housing (such asthe input surface 104 a). In some examples, the touch is on a first areaof the housing and the force is applied to a second area of the housing.In various examples, the first area is located opposite the second area.In numerous examples, the first area and the second area are bothpositioned approximately 90 degrees from a user's head during use of theearphone. In various examples, the touch sensor 130 is inoperable todetect touches on the second area. In numerous examples, the controller132 is operative to interpret the force as multiple different kinds ofinput.

Although the above illustrates and describes inputs as touches on and/orforce applied to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b, it is understood thatthis is an example. In various implementations, the electronic device101 may be operable to detect touches on and/or force applied to otherportions of the housing without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

For example, the stem 103 may move when force is applied to areasorthogonal to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. This may cause the gap114 to increase instead of decrease. Regardless, this may change thecapacitance between the second circuitry section 113 and the thirdcircuitry section 112. The non-binary amount of this force may thus bedetermined using the force data represented by the change in the mutualcapacitance.

In some implementations, this change may be opposite the change in themutual capacitance resulting from force exerted on the input surface 104b. As such, the location that the force is exerted may be determinedbased on the change in the mutual capacitance. Various configurationsare possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The flexible circuit 108 may be a flexible printed circuit board (e.g.,a “flex”). In some implementations, the flexible circuit 108 may beformed of conductive material such as copper, silver, gold, or othermetallic traces formed on a dielectric, such as polyimide or polyester.

The first circuitry section 111 that forms the touch sensor 130 mayinclude one or more touch electrodes. For example, the first circuitrysection 111 may include a touch drive electrode and a touch senseelectrode. A touch on the touch input surface may be determined using achange in mutual capacitance of the touch drive electrode and the touchsense electrode. By way of another example, the first circuitry section111 may include a single touch electrode and a touch to the touch inputsurface may be determined using a change in the self-capacitance of thesingle touch electrode.

The second circuitry section 113 that forms the force sensor 131 mayinclude a first force electrode and the third circuitry section 112 mayinclude a second force electrode. For example, in some implementations,the first force electrode may be a force drive electrode and the secondforce electrode may be a force sense electrode. In otherimplementations, these may be reversed. Changes in mutual capacitancebetween the second circuitry section 113 and the third circuitry section112 (such as between first and second force electrodes respectivelyincluded in the second circuitry section 113 and the third circuitrysection 112) may be used to determine a non-binary amount of the force.

As such, in some implementations, both the touch sensor 130 and theforce sensor 131 may be capacitance sensors. Both may be mutualcapacitance sensors. However, it is understood that this is an example.In various implementations, one or more of the touch sensor 130 and theforce sensor 131 may be a self-capacitance sensor and/or another kind ofsensor without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, FIG. 3A depicts a first side of an example flexible circuit108 that may be used to implement the electronic device 101 depicted inFIG. 2A. FIG. 3B depicts a second side of the example flexible circuit108 shown in FIG. 3A. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate how a single sheet orother structure of dielectric material (such as polyimide, polyester,and so on) may be configured to form the first circuitry section 111,the second circuitry section 113, and the third circuitry section 112;components such as the controller 132, the touch drive electrode 117,the touch sense electrode 118, the first force electrode 120, and thesecond force electrode 119 may be coupled thereto; and conductivematerial such as metal traces may be added thereto to connect suchcomponents. This single sheet or other structure may then be bent,folded, and/or otherwise deformed to configure the flexible circuit 108as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B.

For example, the flexible circuit 108 may be folded along line C-C sothat the first circuitry section 111 that includes the touch driveelectrode 117 and the touch sense electrode 118 is positionedapproximately perpendicular to a central portion of the flexible circuit108. Similarly, the flexible circuit 108 may be folded along lines D-Dand F-F so that the second circuitry section 113 that includes the firstforce electrode 120 and the third circuitry section 112 that includesthe second force electrode 119 are positioned approximatelyperpendicular to the central portion of the flexible circuit 108. Theflexible circuit 108 may then be folded along line E-E so that that thesecond circuitry section 113 that includes the first force electrode 120and the third circuitry section 112 that includes the second forceelectrode 119 are positioned approximately parallel to each other.Finally, the flexible circuit 108 may be folded along line B-B toposition the controller 132 over the central portion of the flexiblecircuit 108. This may result in a configuration similar to that shown inFIGS. 2A-2B and FIG. 4 .

FIG. 4 depicts the assembly 170 of the electronic device 101 of FIG. 2A,including the antenna 106, with the housing removed. FIGS. 2A-2Billustrate the portions of the spring member 109, the first arm 110 a,the first circuitry section 111, the second arm 110 b, and the secondcircuitry section 113 that contact the stem 103 as substantially flat.However, it is understood that this is an example and is depicted inthis fashion for the purposes of simplicity and clarity. In variousimplementations, various features (such as one or more protrusions,domes, and/or other features) may be configured on or between one ormore of these components without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Various configurations are possible and contemplated.

FIG. 5 depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement thetouch sensor 130 depicted in FIG. 2A. The orientation of the stack upmay correspond to the position of the stem 103, the first circuitrysection 111, and the first arm 110 a illustrated in FIG. 2A. The stackup may include the stem 103, the first circuitry section 111, adhesive115, and the first arm 110 a. The first circuitry section 111 mayinclude one or more touch drive electrodes 117 and touch senseelectrodes 118 positioned on or within a dielectric 116 (such aspolyimide, polyester, and so on).

A touch of a user on the stem 103 may alter a capacitance between thetouch drive electrode 117 and the touch sense electrode 118. Asillustrated in FIG. 3 , a controller 132 may be electrically connectedto the touch drive electrode 117 and the touch sense electrode 118 andmay monitor the capacitance between the touch drive electrode 117 andthe touch sense electrode 118 to determine when a touch occurs usingchanges in the capacitance.

The touch drive electrode 117 and the touch sense electrode 118 areillustrated as having a particular configuration and orientation withrespect to each other. The configuration and orientation of the touchdrive electrode 117 and the touch sense electrode 118 with respect toeach other may affect the capacitance between the touch drive electrode117 and the touch sense electrode 118 and how that capacitance changeswhen a user touches the stem 103. The touch drive electrode 117 and thetouch sense electrode 118 may be arranged in a variety of differentconfigurations and orientations to obtain specific properties withrespect to the capacitance between the touch drive electrode 117 and thetouch sense electrode 118 and how that capacitance changes when a usertouches the stem 103.

FIG. 6 depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement theforce sensor 131 depicted in FIG. 2A. The orientation of the stack upmay correspond to the position of the stem 103, the second arm 110 b,the second circuitry section 113, the third circuitry section 112, theattachment spring member 107, and the antenna 106 in FIG. 2A. The stackup may include the antenna 106, the attachment spring member 107,adhesive 115, the third circuitry section 112, the gap 114, the secondcircuitry section 113, adhesive 115, the second arm 110 b, and the stem103. The second circuitry section 113 may include one or more firstforce electrodes 120 positioned on or within a dielectric 116 (such aspolyimide, polyester, and so on). The third circuitry section 112 mayinclude one or more second force electrodes 119 positioned on or withina dielectric 116 (such as polyimide, polyester, and so on). In someimplementations, the first force electrode 120 may be a force driveelectrode and the second force electrode 119 may be a force senseelectrode. In other implementations, the first force electrode 120 maybe a force sense electrode and the second force electrode 119 may be aforce drive electrode.

Force exerted by a user on the stem 103 may alter the gap 114 betweenthe first force electrode 120 and the second force electrode 119.Altering the gap 114 between the first force electrode 120 and thesecond force electrode 119 may alter a capacitance between the firstforce electrode 120 and the second force electrode 119. As illustratedin FIG. 3 , a controller 132 may be electrically connected to the firstforce electrode 120 and the second force electrode 119 and may monitorthe capacitance between the first force electrode 120 and the secondforce electrode 119 to determine or estimate a non-binary amount of theforce that is applied using the changes in the capacitance.

The first force electrode 120 and the second force electrode 119 areillustrated as having a particular configuration and orientation withrespect to each other. The configuration and orientation of the firstforce electrode 120 and the second force electrode 119 with respect toeach other may affect the capacitance between first force electrode 120and the second force electrode 119 and how that capacitance changes whena user applies force to the stem 103. The first force electrode 120 andthe second force electrode 119 may be arranged in a variety of differentconfigurations and orientations to obtain specific properties withrespect to the capacitance between the first force electrode 120 and thesecond force electrode 119 and how that capacitance changes when a userapplies force to the stem 103.

FIGS. 2A-6 illustrate and describe touch sensors 130 and force sensors131 having particular configurations and particular manners ofoperation. However, it is understood that these are examples and thatother implementations are possible and contemplated. For example, thetouch sensor 130 may be replaced with one or more proximity sensorswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

By way of another example, in some implementations, one or more straingauges may be laminated and/or otherwise coupled or attached to internalareas of the housing adjacent one or more of the input surfaces 104 a,104 b. An applied force may cause strain in or on the housing. Thestrain gauges may detect the strain. Such strain data may be evaluatedto determine a non-binary amount of the force exerted.

By way of yet another example, in some implementations, one or moretouch or force sensors (and/or one or more touch sensing electrodes ofsuch a touch or force sensor) may be laminated and/or otherwise coupledor attached to internal areas of the housing (and/or embedded within thehousing) adjacent one or more of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. Thehousing may deform from an initial position when a force is applied andreturn to the initial position when the force is removed. As such, thehousing may function as the spring member 109 in some embodiments. Thetouch or force sensors may detect the deformation and output signalsthat may be used to determine a touch and/or an amount of the appliedforce.

In some examples, one or more switches, such as one or more domeswitches, may be positioned adjacent to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b.Applied force may deform the housing, which may collapse the domes andclose the switch. Output from the switches may be used to determine anon-binary amount of the applied force.

In various examples, one or more optical sensors may be disposed in thehousing. The optical sensors may detect movement of the housing causedby the application of force. In such an example, output from the opticalsensors may be evaluated to determine a non-binary amount of a forcethat is applied.

In numerous examples, one or more temperature sensors may be used todetect temperature changes of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. When theuser 190 exerts different amounts of force on the input surfaces 104 a,104 b, the body of the user 190 may change the temperature of the inputsurfaces 104 a, 104 b. For example, body heat of the user 190 maythermally conduct to the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b when the user 190exerts force on the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b, raising the temperatureof the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b. This thermally conducted heat mayincrease the temperature of the input surfaces 104 a, 104 b higher themore force the user 190 exerts. As such, a non-binary amount of theforce may be determined based on the temperature changes detected by thetemperature sensors.

In some examples, one or more pressure sensors may be disposed withinthe housing. The pressure sensor may measure the pressure of an internalcavity defined within the housing. Force applied to one or more of theinput surfaces 104 a, 104 b may change the pressure of the internalcavity. The electronic device 101 may determine a non-binary amount ofthe force based on pressure changes detected by the pressure sensor.

In various examples, force may be determined using self-capacitance of aforce electrode. By way of illustration, FIG. 7 depicts a firstalternative example of the electronic device 101 of FIG. 2A. Theelectronic device 701 may include a stem 703 of a housing that defines atouch input surface 704 a and a force input surface 704 b. Theelectronic device 701 may also include a flexible circuit 708 with afirst circuitry section 711 that forms a touch sensor 730 and a secondcircuitry section 712 that forms a force sensor 731. The electronicdevice 701 may additionally include a spring member 709 with a first arm710 a that biases the first circuitry section 711 toward the touch inputsurface 704 a and a second arm 710 b.

The second circuitry section 712 may include a force electrode. Theforce sensor 731 may monitor the self-capacitance of that forceelectrode. The second arm 710 b may function as a ground that affectsthe self-capacitance depending on the size of the gap 714 between thesecond circuitry section 712 and the second arm 710 b. A non-binaryamount of force applied to the force input surface 704 b may bedetermined using changes in the self-capacitance of the force electrode.

Additionally, the electronic device 701 may include an antenna assembly706, an attachment spring 707 that is coupled to the antenna assembly706 and the flexible circuit 708. Moreover, the electronic device 701may include a controller 732 that is electrically and/or otherwisecommunicably coupled to the flexible circuit 708.

In still other implementations, one or more of the components of theelectronic device 701 may be changed. For example, in someimplementations, the touch sensor 730 may be replaced with a proximitysensor. In such implementations, the force sensor 731 may be operatedupon detection of proximity using the proximity sensor.

In other examples, the touch sensor 730 may be replaced with anotherforce sensor. The force sensor may be similar to the force sensor 731,the force sensor 131 of FIGS. 2A-2B (such as using third and fourthforce electrodes that move with respect to each other when force isapplied or removed where a non-binary amount of force may be determinedbased on changes in mutual capacitance between the third and fourthforce electrodes), and/or otherwise configured. In such cases wheremultiple force sensors are used, touch or proximity may not be used totrigger operation of a force sensor. In such examples, the two forcesensors may be operated more frequently. In some implementations, thetwo force sensors may be operated at a lower power that yields lessaccurate measurements. The less accuracy of the measurement may becompensated for by using the additional force data supplied from havingmultiple force sensors.

In some implementations, the touch input surface 704 a and the forceinput surface 704 b may be reversed. One or more of the touch sensor 730or the force sensor 731 may be more sensitive to interference fromproximity to a user's neck or other body part. As such, the respectivesensor may be located so as to be as far from that body part as ispossible to minimize interference. Various configurations are possibleand contemplated without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts a second alternative example of the electronic device 101of FIG. 2A. In this example, an electronic device 801 may electricallyconnect a flexible circuit 808 to a spring member 809 and an attachmentspring member 807. An insulator 840 may separate and/or electricallyisolate the spring member 809 and the attachment spring member 807 fromeach other. Movement of a first arm 810 a and a second arm 810 b withrespect to the attachment spring member 807 changes a capacitancebetween the spring member 809 and the attachment spring member 807. Inthis example, the electronic device 801 may determine amounts of forceapplied using changes in capacitance between the spring member 809 andthe attachment spring member 807. As such, the spring member 809 and theattachment spring member 807 may function as electrodes of a forcesensor.

In some implementations of this example, the attachment spring member807 may be used as a drive force sensor and the spring member 809 may beused as a sense force electrode. However, in other examples, the rolesof these electrodes may be reversed without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts a third alternative example of the electronic device 101of FIG. 2A. In this example electronic device 901, a controller 932 maybe electrically connected to an attachment spring member 907 via aflexible circuit 908. The controller 932 may be operative to monitor aself-capacitance of the attachment spring member 907. A spring member909 may also be coupled to the controller 932, such as via a laser weld941 so as to be operable as a ground for the attachment spring member907. Movement of a first arm 910 a and a second arm 910 b with respectto the attachment spring member 907 changes the self-capacitance of theattachment spring member 907. In this example, the electronic device 901may determine amounts of force applied using changes in theself-capacitance of the attachment spring member 907.

Although this example uses the spring member 909 as a ground for theself-capacitance of the attachment spring member 907, it is understoodthat this is an example. In other implementations, the spring member 909may be electrically connected to the controller 932 such that thecontroller 932 is operable to monitor a mutual capacitance between thespring member 909 and the attachment spring member 907.

FIG. 10 depicts a fourth alternative example of the electronic device101 of FIG. 2A. In this example electronic device 1001, a spring member1009 may allow a flexible circuit 1008 to move with respect to anattachment spring member 1007 when force is applied. The flexiblecircuit 1008 may be electrically coupled to the attachment spring member1007, which may be electrically isolated from the spring member 1009 byan insulator 1040. Movement of a first arm 1010 a and a second arm 1010b of the spring member 1009 may change a capacitance between theattachment spring member 1007 and circuitry included in the flexiblecircuit 1008. The capacitance may be used to determine an amount ofapplied force. As such, the attachment spring member 1007 and/or one ormore portions of the flexible circuit 1008 may form a force sensorand/or a touch sensor.

In other implementations, the insulator 1040 may be omitted. In suchother implementations, the spring member 1009 may be coupled to theattachment spring member 1007 via a controller and flexible circuitsimilar to how the controller 932 and flexible circuit 908 of FIG. 9connect the spring member 909 and the attachment spring member 907.Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

In various implementations, an earphone includes a housing, a flexiblecircuit disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in thehousing. The housing includes a speaker and a stem extending from thespeaker and defining a touch input surface and a force input surfaceopposite the touch input surface. The flexible circuit includes a firstcircuitry section, a second circuitry section, and a third circuitrysection. The flexible circuit flexes to allow the second circuitrysection to move toward the third circuitry section when a force isapplied to the force input surface and away from the third circuitrysection when the force is no longer applied. The controller is operativeto determine a touch to the touch input surface using a first change ina first mutual capacitance detected using the first circuitry sectionand a non-binary amount of the force using a second change in a secondmutual capacitance detected using the second circuitry section and thethird circuitry section.

In some examples, the controller uses the second circuitry section andthe third circuitry section to determine the non-binary amount of theforce upon determining the touch. In numerous examples, the earphonefurther includes an antenna disposed within the housing. The flexiblecircuit may be mounted to the antenna. In some examples, the speakerdefines an acoustic port and the touch input surface and the force inputsurface are substantially orthogonal to the acoustic port.

In various examples, the controller determines an amount of time thatthe force is applied. In some examples, the controller interprets theforce as a first input if the non-binary amount of the force is below aforce threshold and a second input if the non-binary amount of the forceat least meets the force threshold.

In some implementations, an electronic device includes a housingdefining a force input surface, a first force electrode disposed withinthe housing, a second force electrode disposed within the housing, aspring member biasing the first force electrode toward the housing andallowing the first force electrode to move toward the second forceelectrode when an input force is applied to the force input surface, anda controller. The controller is operative to determine a non-binaryamount of the force using a change in a capacitance between the firstforce electrode and the second force electrode. The capacitance may be amutual capacitance.

In some examples, the electronic device further includes a touch sensordisposed within the housing. In some embodiments of such examples, thehousing defines a touch input surface and the spring member includes afirst arm that biases the touch sensor toward the touch input surfaceand a second arm that biases the first force electrode toward the forceinput surface.

In various examples, the spring member is at least one of metal orplastic. In numerous examples, the spring member has an M-shaped crosssection.

In some examples, the housing defines an additional force input surface.In some embodiments of such examples, the earphone further includes athird force electrode disposed within the housing adjacent to theadditional force input surface and a fourth force electrode disposedwithin the housing. In such embodiments, the non-binary amount of theinput force is determinable using the capacitance between the firstforce electrode and the second force electrode and an additionalcapacitance between the third force electrode and the fourth forceelectrode.

In numerous examples, the controller is operative to determine anadditional force applied to an area of the housing other than the forceinput surface using an additional change in the capacitance between thefirst force electrode and the second force electrode. The area may beorthogonal to the force input surface and the additional change in thecapacitance may be opposite the change in the mutual capacitance.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method 1100 foroperating a device that includes a force sensor. This method may beperformed using the electronic device 101 of FIGS. 1A-2B.

At 1110, a controller determines whether or not a touch is detected. Thecontroller may determine whether or not a touch is detected using one ormore touch sensors. If so, the flow proceeds to 1120. Otherwise, theflow returns to 1110 where the controller again determines whether ornot a touch is detected.

At 1120, after the touch is detected, the controller detects force datausing a force sensor. The flow then proceeds to 1130 where thecontroller determines or estimates a non-binary amount of the force fromthe force data. The flow then returns to 1110 where the controller againdetermines whether or not a touch is detected.

Although the example method 1100 is illustrated and described asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various implementations, variousorders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may beperformed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in some implementations, an action may be performed usingthe determined non-binary amount of the force. In some examples, thecontroller may interpret the determined non-binary amount of the forceas an input. The controller may perform one or more actions according tothe input corresponding to the determined non-binary amount of theforce.

In various implementations, an earphone includes a housing, a springmember disposed within the housing that moves when a force is applied tothe housing, a touch sensor coupled to the spring member, a touch sensorcoupled to the spring member that is configured to detect a touch on thehousing, a force sensor coupled to the spring member, and a controllerthat uses the force sensor and the touch sensor to determine an amountof the force.

In some examples, the touch is on a first area of the housing and theforce is applied to a second area of the housing. In various suchexamples, the first area is located opposite the second area. In somesuch examples, the first area and the second area are both positionedapproximately 90 degrees from a user's head during use of the earphone.

In various examples, the touch sensor is inoperable to detect touches onthe second area. In some examples, the controller is operative tointerpret the force as multiple different kinds of input.

FIG. 12 depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method 1200 forassembling an electronic device. The method 1200 may assemble theelectronic device of FIG. 2A.

At 1210, an attachment spring member may be coupled to an antenna. At1220, a flexible circuit may be coupled to the attachment spring member.At 1230, the flexible circuit may be coupled to a movement springmember. At 1240, the movement spring member may be deformed. Forexample, the movement spring member may be deformed so that the assemblyproduced by 1210-1230 can fit into an opening in a housing. At 1250, theassembly produced by 1210-1240 is inserted into a housing. At 1260, thehousing is sealed.

For example, sealing the housing may include coupling a cap to anopening in a housing into which the assembly produced by 1210-1240 isinserted. The opening may be in an end of a stem of a housing. Theelectronic device may be an earphone with a housing that includes thestem and a speaker.

Although the example method 1200 is illustrated and described asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various implementations, variousorders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may beperformed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the method 1200 is illustrated and described as deformingthe movement spring member and then inserting the assembly produced by1210-1240 into a housing. However, in some implementations, insertion ofthe assembly into the housing may deform the movement spring membersufficiently to allow insertion. In such implementations, a separateoperation to deform the movement spring member may be omitted.

As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thepresent disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices, suchas earphones. A non-binary amount of a force applied to a force inputsurface defined by a housing is determinable using a change incapacitance between first and second force electrodes. A spring memberdisposed within the housing biases the first force electrode towards thehousing and allows it to move towards the second force electrode whenthe force is applied. In some implementations, an earphone may detecttouch on a touch input surface defined by the housing. In variousexamples of such an implementation, the earphone may determine thenon-binary amount of the force upon detection of the touch. In otherimplementations, the earphone may use signals from both a touch sensorand a force sensor to determine applied force. In a particularembodiment, the first and second force electrodes may be implementedusing separate sections of a single flexible circuit. This flexiblecircuit may flex to allow the first force electrode to move toward thesecond force electrode when the force is applied. This flexible circuitmay also flex to allow the first force electrode to move away from thesecond force electrode when the force is no longer applied.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implementedusing one or more sets of instructions or software readable by a device.Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of stepsin the methods disclosed are examples of sample approaches. In otherembodiments, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method canbe rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in asample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to thespecific order or hierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specificembodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustrationand description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An earphone, comprising: a speaker housing; aspeaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from thespeaker housing, the stem having an internal wall; a flap disposedinside the stem and extending toward the internal wall; a sensordisposed within the stem that produces a signal in response to bendingof the flap; and a controller that determines an input using the signal.2. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the flap is operable to bend inresponse to a force exerted on the stem.
 3. The earphone of claim 2,wherein the input comprises an amount of force.
 4. The earphone of claim2, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.
 5. The earphone of claim 2,wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.
 6. The earphone of claim 1,further comprising a structure to which the flap is coupled.
 7. Theearphone of claim 1, wherein: the flap is a first flap; the first flapextends toward a first portion of the internal wall; and the earphonefurther comprises a second flap that is disposed inside the stem andextends toward a second portion of the internal wall.
 8. An earphone,comprising: a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speakerhousing; a stem extending from the speaker housing; a flexible armdisposed inside the stem, extending toward the stem, and defining anacute angle; a sensor disposed within the stem that is operable toproduce a signal in response to bending of the flexible arm; and acontroller that is operative to determine an input using the sensor. 9.The earphone of claim 8, wherein a portion of the flexible arm is flushwith the stem.
 10. The earphone of claim 8, wherein: the flexible armextends toward a first side of the stem; the flexible arm is a firstflexible arm; and the earphone further comprises a second flexible armthat is disposed inside the stem that extends toward a second side ofthe internal structure that is opposite the first side.
 11. The earphoneof claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the sensor is positioned onthe flexible arm.
 12. The earphone of claim 8, wherein the flexible armis operable to move with respect to at least a portion of the sensorwhen the flexible arm bends.
 13. The earphone of claim 8, whereinbending of the flexible arm in response to exertion of a force on thestem changes the acute angle.
 14. An earphone, comprising: a housing,comprising: a speaker; and a stem extending from the speaker; and aflexible circuit disposed in the stem and comprising: a first circuitrysection; a second circuitry section; a third circuitry section; and afourth circuitry section; wherein the flexible circuit is operable toflex to allow: the first circuitry section to move toward the secondcircuitry section or the third circuitry section to move toward thefourth circuitry section when a force is applied to the stem; and thefirst circuitry section to move away from the second circuitry sectionor the third circuitry section to move away from the fourth circuitrysection when the force is no longer applied; and a controller, disposedin the housing, that is operative to determine an input using a changein capacitance detected using the first circuitry section and the secondcircuitry section or the third circuitry section and the fourthcircuitry section.
 15. The earphone of claim 14, wherein the controllerdetermines the input using both the first circuitry section and thesecond circuitry section and the third circuitry section and the fourthcircuitry section.
 16. The earphone of claim 14, wherein the controllerdetermines an amount of time that the force is applied.
 17. The earphoneof claim 14, wherein the controller determines an amount of the force.18. The earphone of claim 14, further comprising a deformable member towhich the flexible circuit is coupled.
 19. The earphone of claim 14,wherein the flexible circuit is at least a portion of a force sensor.20. The earphone of claim 19, further comprising a touch sensor disposedwithin the stem.